Green Legacy Hiroshima Initiative

A joint UNITAR/ANT-Hiroshima Initiative

Green Legacy Hiroshima is a volunteer initiative, established to safeguard and spread worldwide the seeds and saplings of Hiroshima’s A-Bomb survivor trees. It is hoped that many partners will join this initiative and become active ambassadors in their countries of Hiroshima, its peace message and its green legacy.

In December 2014, Green Legacy Hiroshima was registered as a Future Heritage Project (Mirai-Isan) by the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan. The award is given each year to selected projects, that meet the Future Heritage requirements. The 2015 UNITAR Public Session for Green Legacy Hiroshima was therefore dedicated to a special ceremony marking this nomination. The Secretary-General of the Japan UNESCO Association, Mr. Noboru Noguchi, alongside members of the UNESCO Japan secretariat came from Tokyo for the ceremony. It was a full-house event, with the Ran conference room at the Peace Memorial International Center full to capacity.

The official UNESCO award was handed by the Secretary-General to GLH co-founders, Nassrine Azimi and Tomoko Watanabe.

After the welcome message by the head of the Hiroshima Office Mihoko Kumamoto and a statement by the Mayor of Hiroshima Kazumi Matsui, an introductory video on GLH was presented. Master gardener Chikara Horiguchi and GLH working group member, the architect Akio Nishikiori, made short presentations on the history of Hiroshima's revival. The official UNESCO award was handed by the Secretary-General to GLH co-founders, Nassrine Azimi and Tomoko Watanabe. Professor Kosaku Maeda, a prominent scholar of the Silk Road and cultural heritage, gave the superb keynote speech, making a passionate plea for the preservation of humanity's cultural heritage and emphasizing the relevance of Hiroshima's A-bomb survivor trees in this context.

Status of 2014-15 Seed Collection

The 2014-2015 season seed collection had its highlight around the Ginkgo biloba survivor tree at Hiroshima's historical Shukkeien Garden on November. 2, 2014. A dozen volunteers -- Green Legacy Hiroshima core team and working group members from UNITAR, Hiroshima University, and Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation -- gathered for the annual, productive activity. Seeds of Kurogane holly at Hiroshima Castle, and Camphor at Motomachi area were also collected on the same day.

On December 15, 2014, seed collection for the Persimmon, Japanese hackberry, and Kurogane holly survivor trees took place at Atago Pond and in Motomachi. Earlier in the season Jujube seeds had been collected from the mother tree on Peace Boulevard.

Argentina Buenos Aires Botanical Garden

83rd UNITAR Public Session: Green Legacy Hiroshima – A Heritage for the Future

25 February 2015, Hiroshima, Japan - Green Legacy Hiroshima (GLH), co-founded as a voluntary initiative in July 2011 and institutionally supported by UNITAR, ANT-Hiroshima, as well as other local institutions, has the objective to safeguard and spread worldwide the seeds and saplings of Hiroshima’s A-bomb survivor trees. It now has established partnerships in more than 25 countries.

In December 2014, GLH was registered as a Future Heritage Project (Mirai-Isan) by the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan. The UNITAR Public Session will therefore be dedicated to a special award ceremony, marking this nomination.

The National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan (NFUAJ) annually selects noteworthy projects able to preserve the local cultural and natural heritages, and pass these to future generations a 100 years hence. These are registered as 'Heritage for the Future' projects. On December 18, UNESCO Japan announced GLHI as one of three officially registered 2014 Heritage for the Future projects.

Nichia Gakuin, Argentina

November 2014: A persimmon sapling was planted in Paul Harris public square of Arroyo Leyes, a small community located 488 kilometers from Buenos Aires, in Santa Fe province.

Linköping University, Sweden

November 2014: Small planting ceremony with local kids, in presence of mayor, was held with the Ginkgo seeds sent in June, 2014. Either the nursery of Linköping University Hospital, or of the City will keep the pots for winter in a greenhouse.

GLH 14th WG meeting (29 October 2014)

Westgate Baptist Church, UK

October 2014: Seeds of Ginkgo dispatched. Peace events scheduled on November 16.

Nichia Gakuin, Argentina

October 2014

A Ginkgo sapling was planted at Liceo Militar General San Martin-- kindergarten, elementary and middle school. Julio, Seed of Peace coordinator, gave presentation on GLHI and their project. Other Ginkgo saplings continue to be planted in other sites.

A Ginkgo sapling was planted at “Kyowa-en,” the recreation and sports facility of Japanese Association Burzaco (AJB). The planting ceremony was held with the attendance of Vice-consul of Japan, JICA Volunteers Coordinator, the Municipality, AJB members, associates and guests

UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Ethiopia

October 2014: Mr. Horiguchi, GLH master gardener, visited UNECA (9-15 October 2014) with five species of saplings. He had meetings with Dr. Carlos Lopes and others, including with Mr. Mekete Demisse, a botanist working with ECA. He also gave a presentation on A-bombed trees and GLH to UNECA staff.

On October 24, UN day, a symbolic planting event was held at UN’s African Headquarters. Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia attended.

Vilnius University Botanical Garden, Lithuania

October 2014: Seeds successfully germinated and they hope to plant seedlings in garden next year.

Griffith University, Australia

October 2014: Message from GLH Australian partners: “The Gingko trees are growing well especially with all the sunshine we have been having following the winter months when they lose their leaves but they now have their leaves again and are doing well. They are still in their pots as it takes a few years before they are ready to plant in the ground.”

Botanical Garden of the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

October 7, 2014: A planting ceremony was held with some 50 participants. Five saplings of Ginkgo and Japanese hackberry, about 40-80 cm in height, were replanted into a larger clay pod individually. These saplings will eventually be planted in the campus of the University, in a year or two, after new university buildings have been completed. GLH was represented by Prof. Shin-Ichi Uye of Hiroshima University.

Kyoseian, Miyoshi-City, Hiroshima, Japan

October 4, 2014: A Cherry sapling, descendant of the Cherry tree in front of Hiroshima City Hall, was delivered.

No Gun Ri City, South Korea

September 2014: A Ginkgo sapling was planted in front of No Gun Ri Peace Memorial by the Chairman of its International Peace Foundation Dr. Chung Koodo, alongside Mr. Yasuyoshi Komizo, Chairperson of Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation (Mayors for Peace).

City of Fremantle, Australia

September 2014: Ginkgo seeds were dispatched in August through Mayors for Peace. Little seedlings have begun to germinate.

Asian Health Institute, Aichi, Japan

September 2014: A Chinese Parasol sapling, delivered in 2012, is in good health. A picture with international trainees below.

Yano-Nishi elementary school, Hiroshima, Japan

September 2014: A Ginkgo sapling, planted in the school yard on 14 July, 2014, is growing in good health.

City of Semey, Kazakhstan

August 2014: A ginkgo sapling was planted on August 29, 2014 at Polkovnichiy Island, Semey, by Mr. Suleymenov, President of Anti-Nuclear Movement (IAM) “Nevada-Semey, and Mr. Komizo, Chairperson of Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation. (Mayors for Peace)

Tver Botanical Garden, Russia

August 2014: The Botanical Garden of Tver State University hosted the Day of Open Heart on August 6, 2014. A first sapling of a Ginkgo tree, grown from seeds delivered from Hiroshima in June 2013, was planted. A memorial ceremony for victims of Hiroshima’s nuclear tragedy was also held. The Botanical Garden website states: ‘We are confident that our objectives and activities of the International Competition "Adopt a Tree!” miraculously coincide with the meaning of the "Green Legacy Hiroshima."We have a common world and we should love it! Save this world and preserve life on our planet, we can make it happen all together!’

ICRC, Geneva, Switzerland

August 2014: One year from the planting ceremony on Aug. 6, 2013. The ginkgo tree has many green leaves and looks happy under the sun!

Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile

August 2014: Mr. Vincente Pinto, ex-counsellor for Embassy of Chile in Japan, visited the botanical garden of Universidad Austral de Chile. Saplings are growing in good health. Mr. Pinto describes: ‘Ginkgos bilobas were the first to share their beauty and are now strong with fat buds, waiting their second vigorous sprouting ... one among all is announcing that green spring will come soon ... Cinnamomun camphors are so generous, just as their parents, full of leaves and growing strongly ... Ilex rotunda were the last to wake up from their sleepy dream to Valdivia and are now just starting to show their first shiny leaves ...’ They have started thinking about the possible sites for planting in the park.

Brescia, Italy

'Remembering Hiroshima – Seeds of Peace from A-bombed trees (translated from the Italian) - They are called “Seeds of Peace” and are from 170 trees that survived the 6 August 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Green Legacy Hiroshima Initiative collects the seeds in the autumn and distribute them worldwide to those who make a request. In Italy, the seeds have arrived at San Giuliano di Susa and in Lampedusa.'

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), Beppu City, Japan

June, 2014: The Cherry tree, planted on the campus of APU on October 24., 2013, is growing in good health, beside the commemorative plaque.

Haragama Kindergarten in Soma City, Fukushima, Japan

June 2014: Saplings of Ginkgo and Chinese parasol planted in December 2012 growing well.